| First Author | Noda T | Year | 2025 |
| Journal | Nat Commun | Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 8264 |
| PubMed ID | 40962834 | Mgi Jnum | J:372442 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:8248276 | Doi | 10.1038/s41467-025-63805-4 |
| Citation | Noda T, et al. (2025) GALNTL5 binds GalNAc and is required for migration through the uterotubal junction and sperm-zona pellucida binding. Nat Commun 16(1):8264 |
| abstractText | More than 20 genes expressed in the male reproductive tract have been identified as essential factors for sperm migration to and through the utero-tubal junction (UTJ), and they are divided into ADAM3-dependent and ADAM3-independent pathways. In parallel, sperm having UTJ migration defects also show impaired binding to the zona pellucida (ZP). Herein, we demonstrate that knockout of Galntl5, encoding a sperm surface protein, causes impaired sperm binding with the UTJ and ZP, and null males have severe infertility. GALNTL5 appreciably disappears in sperm lacking Adam3 or Lypd4, required for ADAM3-dependent and ADAM3-independent pathways, and GALNTL5 binds to N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) distributed on the UTJ and ZP. Blockage of GalNAc decreases the number of sperm binding to the UTJ and ZP. Thus, we unveil that GALNTL5 is a responsible factor for UTJ migration and sperm-ZP binding, and that sperm bind to the UTJ and ZP through interaction of GALNTL5 and GalNAc. |
